By Business Insider Reporter
In a precedent-setting development set to transform Tanzania’s insurance landscape, NMB Bank has partnered with Metro Life Assurance to introduce the country’s first WhatsApp-enabled group life insurance service.
The innovation, which modernizes the Mkono wa Pole Group Life Insurance product, simplifies access to insurance service for mostly ordinary Tanzanians.
NMB Bank officials said the new product conveniently allows community groups to purchase and manage life insurance entirely through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for paperwork, branch visits, or physical interactions.
Unveiled yesterday at a launch event in Dar es Salaam, the digital insurance solution marks a significant step toward inclusive finance and social protection.
By integrating with WhatsApp, one of the most widely used messaging platforms in Tanzania, the service removes many if not all of the barriers to insurance uptake and claims processing.
Speaking at the event, NMB Bank’s Chief of Retail Banking, Mr Filbert Mponzi, emphasized the bank’s commitment to innovation and promoting inclusive insurance.
The consumer banking expert said the pioneering development revolutionizes how community groups – from school clubs, families, and workplace teams to WhatsApp circles, VICOBA savings groups, and institutional networks – get access to insurance services in the country.
“This innovative solution has been intentionally designed to make insurance more accessible and meaningful to everyday Tanzanians,” said Mr Mponzi.
“By leveraging popular digital platforms like WhatsApp, we’re removing traditional barriers and extending coverage to people in even the most remote and informal communities,” he added.
He said that with premiums starting from as low as TZS 500 per month, group members can access Mkono wa Pole compensation benefits of up to TZS 5 million.
He emphasized that this milestone – along with other empowerment solutions from NMB Bank – would not have been possible without the enabling regulatory environment created by the Government through the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA).
The Commissioner of Insurance, Dr Baghayo Saqware, praised the initiative as a landmark achievement in advancing national financial inclusion and driving strategic innovation within the insurance sector.
The TIRA boss described the NMB-Metro partnership as a patriotic collaboration, commending both institutions for investing in technology and innovation to make insurance services more accessible and aligned with the government’s inclusive insurance agenda.
“The product we’re unveiling today is a digital evolution of the group life insurance solution we first introduced to the market in partnership with Metro Life in 2022,” said Mr Martine Massawe, Head of NMB Bancassurance, during the launch event.
“It directly tackles past challenges – especially delays in claim settlement – and brings insurance services right to the fingertips of Tanzanians, making access faster, easier, and more convenient than ever before.”
Using WhatsApp, group leaders initiate the policy purchase by messaging 0747 333 444. NMB’s chatbot, JIRANI, then guides users through the entire enrollment process – capturing group details, uploading documents, and generating a payment reference.
The claim process has also been digitized. Leaders can submit claims and track their status via WhatsApp, significantly cutting processing time and improving transparency.
Speaking at the event, the CEO of Metro Life, Mr Amani Boma, highlighted the company’s ambitious plans to introduce further innovations aimed at expanding the reach and accessibility of insurance services across the country.
He noted that the group life insurance solution has been a game-changer, primarily due to its affordable premiums, long-term sustainability, and the principle of equal coverage for all members.
